Method of and apparatus for laying submerged pipe line



. Oct. 12-, 1926. v

. 1503306 J. v. FERRY El AL. v

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING SUBMERGED PIPE LINE Filed. Feb. 1 2l, 1926 Sheets-Sheet 1 v ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

JAMEs v. FERRY, or ATLANTIC our, AND Anni-tony. ."s. MIL ER, E rLEAs'AnTvI'LLE; v 7 NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T0 JAMES FERRY COMPANY, on ArLAN'rrccrrY; NEW

-JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS-30R LAYING sUBMEEeE'n PIPE LINE.

1 Application filed February 12,1926. 'S e riaIQNo. 87,920.

j The present invention is concerned with which the, pipe is supported at any desired the provision of a novel method for laying. pipe lineunder water in 'such a mannerthat the pipe line 'is securely supportedfla'gainst settlement and subsequent breakage, and in predetermined grade or curvature. 'An' object of the invention is to provide a method of this character Which will eliminatethe necessity for the services of divers,

and; will consequently eliminate the eXpen sive operations of joining pipe sections under A further object the stream or other body of water,under 0f the'lpipe settling and breaking which the pipe is laid. These bents consist of aipair of upright piles'and a cross piece,

and are for the purpose ofsupportingthe pipe ata predetermined or established grade or curve, and for preventing the possibility action of the shifting stream bed.

-' It, customary to drive or hydraulically jet in'the pile bent. If the piles are long enough tobe reached'by a pile driver at the water surface, it "is subsequently necessary to cut them off under water. In any event, the services of divers are'required for proper- 1y laying the pipe sections on the cross pieces of the bents, suitably joining the sections.

In accordance with the present method,

we eliminate all of the disadvantages of the old method. Preferably we support the pipe line above the waterline and join it before it is "submerged. The entire pipe line.

is'then lowered on to the bents, and the superstructure which supported the pipe line I during its joining, is removed without the necessityflof cutting ofl pilings under water. Among other objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a method which does not require the use of expensive machinery or other apparatus, a method which is' well suited to meet the practical requirements under the and for caulking or otherwise of submarine Hengineeringfand a method 'which will assure the laying of pipe with expedition and at a lowlabor cost:

iW1th'the above noted and other objects in View, the inventionconsists in certain novel features of construction and combinations .and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set-forth and pointed out 1n the cla ms. The invention .may be more fully understood from the following descrip drawings, wherein I F ig. 1' is a fragmentary view in verse section through a. stream or other body of water and its bed, showing apparatus embodying the present invention in, place,

tion in connection withtheaccompanying I trans-' and showing a joined-- pipeline mounted upon thesuperstructure above the water line,

and ready to be lowered .into permanent pile bents. n. V I, i v v Fig. 2 is a top plan .viewofFig. 1.

view on the line 33 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 4 is a frontelevational view illus trating a pile bent and its superstructure reinforced by additional frame work.

Fig. 5fshows one of the permanent-piling bents with a. pipe section supported thereon. Fi .6 shows one of the bents with its de achaible superstructure reinforced by addi-v tional bracesfor the purpose ,of shipment.

In the drawings-I have used the reference character 10 to designate the bed of a stream, under which it is proposed to :lay a sub merged pipe line. Assuming that the site of position on the Fig. 3 is an enlarged tran'sverse sectional the proposed pipeinstallation is located in v tide water, thedot and. dashline A-nwill rep and dash line B will represent the water resent the water level at low tide, andthe dot V level at high tide. The apparatus for carrying out themethod includes a series of permanentpilebents, one of which is shown in Fig. 5'. The permanent bents each include a" pair ofvertical piles l1 mounting across piece 12 near their upper ends, The cross pieces 12 serveas apermanent bed or cradle for the pipeline 16 after the latter has been finally laid. a

In accordance with the present invention, we build. a removable superstructure or frame upon the'permanent bents to support I the pipe line above the water level while it is being assembled. After the pipe line has been lowered to its final position on the cross pieces 12, this superstructure is detached and removed. As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the superstructure includes vertical pilings 13 spliced to the upper ends of the piles 12 as indicated at 14. The splice at 141 is of a character which Will permit the pilings 13 to be broken away from the ermanent bents by swinging the upper ends of pilings 13 back and forth after the pipe has been laid on the permanent bents. Connecting the pilings 13 preferably just above the water li'ne,'are cross pieces 15 which cooperatively provide a temporary rest or cradle for the pipe sections 16- during the joiningof the sections. Above the cross pieces 15, adjacent the upper ends of the piles 13 are mounted additional cross pieces.

17 which are used in a manner to be later described. for anchoring and guiding the hoisting'lin'es used'in handling the pipe.

The first step of the method consists in sinking the permanent bents with the superstructure attached, into .the bed otthe str am. The relative elevation, of the cross pieces 12 of the bents predeterinines the slope or curve ofthe laid pipe line. This curvature has of course been exaggerated in Fig.1 of the drawings; The presence 0-5 the superstructure 13"makes itv easy to drive the bents by the use'ot a floating pile driver,- or it desired the bents may be hydraulically jetted into place by the Well known jetting method.

After the series of permanent bents with their attached superstru'ctures have been driven into position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the'drawings, the structure may be reinforced by any suitable number of additional bracing members; such for instance as the horizontal braces 18 which conmet the upper ends ofthe rows of piles l3,

.i 23 cured to alternate piles 13.

Fig. 6 shows'theuse of transverse diagonal bracing members 20 for reinforcing the superstructure during the handling or shipment of the bents. and attached frame work.

In the event that the pipe line is to be laid in a rapidly running stream, or it for any reason. the bents and "frame wo'rkare subjected to material lateral stresses by the action of the water thereon, we may use additional bracing frames such as those shown'in Fig. Here, extra pilings 21 are driven into the stream bed at one side of the bents, and the superstructure connected or by thedia 'onal braces 19removably seto the pilin'gs by a series of horizontal bracing members 22 and diagonal braces 23. It will of course be understood that the particular arrangei'nent of supplemental brac-- ing means, will depend upon the particular conditions encountered at each location where pipe line is to be laid, and are in any event subject to a wide variety of changes and variations.

After the bents and their associated superstructure have been driven or jetted into place in the stream bed, the upper ends of the piles 13 will project above water, and the tional manner as by caulking or bolting. It

is of course desirable that" the pipe joints be somewhat flexible in order to permit a slight sag in the pipe-line without danger of breaking when the pipe lineis lowered into. its finalposition on the bents.

After the pipe has been joi ed, we attach suitable hoisting apparatus in order, to elevate'the pipe'and permit the cross pieces 15 to be knocked out or removed. its best seen in Fig. 3, the end of ahoistingline 25 is anchored to each upper cross piece 17as at 28, passed under the pipe 16, and run through a pulley 26 which is hung at on the cross piece. The ends of the hoisting lines 25 are then runto a sling or loop 29.

It will be evident that in some instances we need not provide a separate-hoisting line on each cross piece, butregardless of'the number of the lines, they are arranged so that the position ot the successive pulleys and anchorages are alternated, so that when the sling 29 is pulled to elevate the ;pipe,'or released to lower the pipe, there will be no tendency for the pipe to roll and twist in its supporting lines. In other words, the torsional strains-on opposite sides of the pipe will be equalized, and the pipe :will be raised or lowered without turning.

So far as the mechanism for operating the slings 29 is' concerned, any convenient or conventional power unit and power transmitting apparatus might be employed. For purposes of illustration, I have shown a motor driven winch 31, about which is wrapped a hoisting line 32. This line is run through any suitable series of power multiplying sheaves 33, 3a to 'thesling 29. One convenient method involves the use of a deadman or anchor 35 to which one of the sheave blocks 34. is attached, and the passage of the line or cable from. the blocks 3 1 to the block and tackle 33, which is'in turn anchored to another firm anchorage at 36. 7 I

Aiter the hauling lines have been attached and made fast, the winch 31 is start ed, simultaneously hauling on all of the lines 25 and elevating the pipe horizontally from the supporting member's 15. The tension on all of the lines 25 should be approximately the' same in order to insure a direct upward lift on the pipe. Members are then knocked'out, andthe winchiis Opi-f,

erated to slackefi on all of the lines and lower the pipe into its permanent position on the cross'pieces 12 of th'e-bents; The flexi- After the pilehas come to reston the cross pieces 12, the lines 25 are "untiedlor re leased from theiranchorages at'28, and by hauling on the sling 29, all ofthe lineslwill be drawn out of water, leavingonly the: pulleys 26 .on-the frame work The strengthening frame pieces 18 *and .19 are now knocked ofi'or removedy By attaching anrend of line. to. thecrOsspiece l7forfto one ofthe'piles 13, and working these piles back 1 andiorth, the relatively weak, splice at 14 -be fioatedto the surfaceofth,el water;and

' maybe picked up and reused.

While we have illustrated oneforni of ap-q gparatus by which the method oi; the present invention maybe expeditiously carried out, 1t is *to be understood that numerous changes might be made," both in the appa ratus and in the details of the nethod with out departing .fromthe spirit andscope of the appended claims; v v j It will be evident that 'instead'otusing'a hoisting winch on shore',; wejmig'ht handie a suitable number of hoisting lines irom'a floating crane or derrick;

VVeclaim: 1. A method of line which includes, the ste psfof lining' up and joining the pipeline sections while supporting them upon a temporary framestructu're above the level of the water un- ,der whichthe pipe line is to be laid, and

subsequently removing said frame and lowposition on a subout the series rofalowerlcross pieces slacking l ering the pipe to I its 'final merged frame work. i

2. A method of laying'submergedpipa line whichincludes the steps of lining'up and joining the pipe line sections while supporting them upon a temporary'frame struc-v ture above the. level of the water under rary frame members, and subsequently "1ow-, ering the pipe to its final position on a submerged framework.

3. A method of rlayingl submerged pipe; line which includes removably attaching su-" perstructure framestoia series of permanent' pile bents, lining up" and joining the V pipe .line', sections on the y'superstructure frames, lifting 1 the. pipeline, removing the; portions of the superstructureframes which. 7 supported the pipe line, and lowering the] pipeline into-positionion, the bents.

i. A method of laying submerged pipe line which includes'removab'ly' attachingsusubmerged pipe pe'rstructure frames to a serie sof permanent pile bents, lining up and joining-thejpipe liftingi'the pipe line, removing the portions of the superstructure frames: which supportedthe pipe line, and lowering the pipe I line into position onthebents, and removirames,

inn the remainder, of the superstructure f5; A? method of-"laying submerged pipe lin'ejwhi'ch ineludesthe steps of'remova'bly attaching superstructure frames to a series ,linesections on the s'uperstructureframes,

pipe line is to be laid, with two parallel series of cross pieces on the frames disposed above thewater level,-'l1n1ng up' and oinpieces, attaching'the standing-ends ofhOist- I ing lines-'to the upper j cross pieces, passing theflines u nder' tliejpip'e an'd thro'ughp111:

.leys on' said cross pieces, haulingv on the running ends of all of the lines to lift the; pipe, knocking out the series of lower' cross 7 I j 'ing the pipe onqthe lowerlseries of cross will be brokenfand the, superstructure will pieces,."slacking ofi on ,all of the linesto .6. Amanda of 'la ing subin i gedfpipe with the attached frames into place in the bed oi la' body [of water: under which the pipe linejis to be laid, with twoparallel series of cross pieces on theirames disposed i -t e. P "i P i n the Penna nentbients." r I I ,7 V

above the water 'level, liningup and-joining i. v the fpipefon; the lower series of cross pieces,

attaching-the standing ends of hoisting lines to the upperteross p1eces,,passing;the lines.

under the pipe'and'through pulleyson said cross vpieces, hauling on the running endsof a'll'of'thelines to lift thej pipe, knocking 'ofi on "allfo'f the lines to lower the pipe into position onthe' permanent bents, then re;

moving the superstructure frames. 'ZQA ethod of laying submerged pipe linewhich includes the :steps of removably attaching superstructureframes to a series of permanent pile bents, nserting the bentsfn with, the attachedframes into place in the bed of a body of waterunderxwhich thepipe I l ne isto be laid, with'two'par'all'el series of cross pieces onj the frames, disposed above the water level,' lining up and joining the pipe Orr-the lower series of cross pieces, at: V I

tachingfthe standing ends of hoisting lines,

to the upper cross pieces, passing the lines. under'the pipe and through pulleys on said cross pieces, hauling on the running 1 ends of all of'the linesto lift the pipe, knocking f 'outthe series oflower cross pieces, slacking off on all 'Qfthe lines to lower the 'pipe into position on the permanent bnts, detaching tlme standing ends ef the lines and hauling enthe lines tetree them from the frames, then removing the frames; 7 V

. 8.1% IHGt-lIOQlset forth in claim 7, wherein the superstructure frames are Weakly spliced to the permanent bent s, and

are removed by breaking thesplice connec} v tions.

9. An apparatus for laying submerged pipe line including" a permanent pile bent ands superstructure reinovably attached to the bent. V

10. An apparatus 'torrlaying submerged pipe line includlng a' permanent p11e bent and a superstructure reinovably attached to the bent said superstructure including a pair ofhorizontal cross bars adapted to be disposed abcve the ater .level When the bent is inplace in a stream bed.

vll. Apparatus for laying submerged pipe line, including .a benticrnied of two upright piles and across piece and a re1n0v-- JAMES V. FERRY. ANTHONY v1 MILLE 

